Births

Another gun-products maker promises to follow Magpul out of Colorado

Denver-based Lawrence Tool & Molding will take jobs and machinery out of state if Erie-based Magpul Industries follows through with threats to relocate, its owner warned Friday.

"Considering it is 60 percent of our work, we will do and go along with whatever it takes to keep that business," said Lloyd Lawrence, owner of the 35-year-old company.

Magpul makes a variety of accessories for weapons, including high-capacity cases to hold ammunition. HB-1224, which would make it illegal for individuals to own ammunition magazines with more than 15 rounds in Colorado, has passed the House and is before the Senate.

Magpul has protested it can't operate in a state where key products are illegal and threatened to take its headquarters and about 200 direct jobs with it.

The fast-growing company said it sources about 90 percent of its contracts in state, and several Front Range plastic injection molding firms have come to rely heavily on the manufacturer after other contracts went overseas.

The company employs 63 people and Lawrence said about 38 of those jobs might relocate, along with machinery. Most of those positions are low-paying, in the $10 to $15 an hour range, but some jobs pay $65,000 a year or more.

Last week, Alfred Manufacturing, another long-time Denver manufacturer, said it would have to follow Magpul, whose contracts have allowed the firm to grow from 40 to 150 jobs.

Knights pick up first playoff win since '14BOULDER — This year's Fairview boys basketball team sure is full of surprises.
After losing five of their first eight games, the Knights rebounded to finish the regular season on a 13-2 run and found a way to win the Front Range League regular season championship. Full Story

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story